Dear editor, I am a member of the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board in the town of Crossfield. In Crossfield, the Municipal Planning Commission (community volunteers) approves or denies all development permits. Town council (elected officials), however, has reserved for itself the approval of all subdivision applications.
On April 20, council approved a subdivision application. Of the five members of council, the vote was two in favour and one opposed. There was a factual error in the application, that being that the subdivision is not near a river, stream, lake or other body of water, or drainage ditch or canal. It most certainly is. Council approved the application anyway, perhaps on the misguided advice of Town administration.
I have heard a lot of complaints about this process. Unfortunately, however, no citizen is allowed to appeal the decision of Town council to the SDAB. Only “corporate bodies” may appeal a subdivision decision.
In addition, because the subdivision is near a body of water, and indeed contains a body of water within its limits, appeals must be filed with the Municipal Government Board in Edmonton, not the SDAB in Crossfield.
Council approved the subdivision based on incomplete information. For example, there was no site elevation plan, nor any wetlands impact analysis. Council did come up with a list of 18 conditions. But who will be inspecting to see these conditions are satisfied? And who can issue a stop work order if conditions fail? Who is the supervising engineer? Will further approvals in stages be required as the development progresses or was the whole thing a done deal?
I suggest everyone take a look at the policies and procedures for development in Crossfield, and how ideas and projects are approved, managed and supervised. Perhaps a top-to-bottom review of the process is in order. Perhaps this is a task for the next Town council.
Clifford Hurt, Crossfield
